Nurses are the people who really keep hospitals running. They check your blood pressure, find a vein first time (usually) and still manage a smile at 3am. Whether you’re training for a job in healthcare or just want to understand what’s going on at your next hospital visit, this guide covers the words you’ll hear on the ward.
10 On-the-Job Nurse Words
These are the words you’ll hear a nurse use every day, in alphabetical order. The three marked Featured appear in the photo at the top of this page.
blood pressure (noun) — the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries.
“The nurse checked the patient’s blood pressure using a cuff and gauge.”
chart (noun) — a written or electronic record of a patient’s medical information.
“She updated the patient’s chart after every visit.”
check (verb) — to examine or test something, such as a patient’s vital signs. · Featured
“The nurse checked his pulse and temperature before breakfast.”
medication (noun) — a drug given to treat or prevent illness.
“The nurse gave the patient her medication right on schedule.”
monitor (verb) — to watch and record something closely over time.
“Nurses monitor patients closely after surgery.”
nurse (noun) — a person trained to care for the sick or injured. · Featured
“The nurse smiled and asked how she was feeling.”
patient (noun) — a person receiving medical care or treatment. · Featured
“The patient waited quietly while her blood pressure was checked.”
pulse (noun) — the regular beat of blood being pumped through the body, usually felt at the wrist.
“He counted her pulse for a full minute.”
temperature (noun) — a measurement of how hot or cold the body is.
“A high temperature can be one of the first signs of infection.”
wound (noun) — an injury to the body, especially a cut or break in the skin.
“The nurse cleaned and dressed the wound carefully.”
How to Talk About Being a Nurse
Beyond the ward, here’s vocabulary for talking about nursing as a career. Long shifts, night shifts, aching feet and a lot of responsibility: it’s not an easy job, but few are more rewarding. According to the UK’s National Careers Service, becoming a registered nurse usually means a three-year university degree or a four-year nursing apprenticeship, followed by registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Here are the words you need to talk about the job:
apprenticeship (noun) — a paid job that combines work with study, leading to a qualification.
“She trained through a four-year nursing apprenticeship.”
background check (noun) — an official check of someone’s history before they’re allowed to work with patients.
“All new nurses must pass a background check before starting.”
qualified (adjective) — having the right training, certification, or experience for a job.
“It takes several years of study to become a qualified nurse.”
registration (noun) — being officially listed as approved to practise in a profession.
“Every nurse needs registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.”
shift (noun) — a scheduled block of working time, often at unusual hours.
“She’s working the night shift this week.”
team (noun) — a group of people working together toward the same goal.
“Nurses work closely with the rest of the medical team.”
under pressure (adjective phrase) — having to perform well despite difficulty or stress.
“A good nurse can stay calm under pressure.”
ward (noun) — a section of a hospital where patients stay and are cared for.
“She’s been assigned to the children’s ward this month.”
Quick Check
For teachers: free printable worksheet
Using this page in class? Download our free nurse vocabulary worksheet: a word list, matching, a gap fill, talking-about-the-job questions and a role play, with an answer key. Two A4 pages, ready to print.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A nurse regularly checks things like blood pressure, pulse, and temperature — together, these are often called a patient’s vital signs.
A nurse is the trained professional providing care, while a patient is the person receiving that care or treatment.
Everyday English classes often skip the words used in real workplaces. If you’re learning English for work, travel, or exams, knowing this kind of vocabulary makes real conversations — checking in with a patient, describing your own job, reading a chart — much easier.
More from the Careers Vocabulary Series:
- Carpenter Vocabulary
- Chef Vocabulary
- Dentist Vocabulary
- Electrician Vocabulary
- Farmer Vocabulary
- Hairdresser Vocabulary
- Mechanic Vocabulary
- Plumber Vocabulary
- Veterinarian Vocabulary
If you enjoyed this, you might also like our guides to Phrasal Verbs For The Office and Workplace Idioms. Got a nurse word we missed, or one that’s different where you live? Tell us on X — @EnglishStudy.
